Pope urges faithful to spread message of Christ

MANILA, Philippines - Pope Francis yesterday asked the faithful to bring Jesus into the world of politics, business and social media, and justice and peace to the Philippines.

The Pontiff made the call in a video message sent to the First Philippine Conference on New Evangelization (PCNE) held at the University of Santos Tomas.

“Bring Jesus now into the world of politics, business, arts, science, technology and social media. Let the Holy Spirit renew the creation and bring forth justice and peace in the Philippines and in the great continent of Asia that is close to my heart,” Pope Francis said.

“Through this conference, I hope you would experience the presence of Jesus in your lives, that you would love the Church more and that you would share the Gospel to other people with humility and joy. Don’t get tired of bringing the mercy of the Father to the poor, the sick, the abandoned the young people and the family,” he added.

He also asked the faithful to pray for him and, in return, he promised to pray for them to the Blessed Virgin Mary whom he described as the star of the new evangelization.

He thanked the bishops, priests, religious men and women, seminarians, lay faithful, and the organizers and participants of the PCNE, who came from different parts of the Philippines and from other Asian countries, for attending the event.

On Nov. 21, Pope Francis will bless a mosaic image of San Pedro Calungsod, the second Filipino saint, at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said the Pontiff only agreed to lead the blessing ceremony and asked Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle to officiate a mass inside the basilica. 

After the mass, Calungsod’s image would be placed permanently inside the basilica together with that of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint, which has been there for 25 years.

Palma said it is an honor for the Philippine Church that another Filipino saint would have an image inside the basilica.

“We should feel privileged that the image of our two saints will be seen when you go to the St. Peter’s Basilica,” he added.

Palma also said that he and some other bishops would travel to Rome for the occasion.